Menopause marks the end of menstrual cycles and brings hormonal changes that cause hot flashes, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, bone loss, and cardiovascular risk changes that can persist for years. Treatment options have expanded beyond hormone therapy, and the safety and optimal use of hormones remain active research areas.
What's actually going on in research
Neurokinin B/3 receptor antagonists like fezolinetant offer a non-hormonal approach that directly targets the brain pathway causing hot flashes, with strong clinical trial results now translating to standard use. Research is clarifying which women benefit most from hormone therapy and when to start it — the "timing hypothesis" suggesting early initiation after menopause may carry cardiovascular benefits is being rigorously tested. Ospemifene and vaginal estrogens are being compared for genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Fezolinetant (NK3 antagonist)
This non-hormonal drug blocks the NK3 receptor in the brain's thermoregulatory center — the root cause of hot flashes — and reduces vasomotor symptoms significantly without hormones.
Hormone therapy timing
Trials are testing whether starting hormone therapy in the early post-menopause window (within 6 years) provides cardiovascular and cognitive protection that is lost if treatment is delayed.
Genitourinary treatment
Low-dose vaginal estrogen, ospemifene (an oral SERM), and intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone are being compared for long-term relief of vaginal dryness and painful sex.
What to know before you search
Eligibility requires confirmed menopausal status (FSH, time since last period), specific symptom type and severity, and exclusion of contraindications to hormone use.
What types of trials are currently open
- Hot flash trials — Testing non-hormonal and hormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms.
- Hormone therapy trials — Evaluating timing, formulation, and route of hormone therapy on cardiovascular and bone outcomes.
- Genitourinary syndrome trials — Comparing local and systemic treatments for vaginal dryness and urinary symptoms.
- Bone health trials — Testing bone-protective treatments combined with menopause management.
- Cognitive function trials — Studying whether hormone therapy affects memory, mood, and dementia risk.
Recently added Menopause trials
Beetroot Juice: a Natural Aid for Boosting the Health Benefits of Exercise in Post-menopausal Women?
Menopause and ageing bring several changes to women's health, partly due to a decline in the hormone estrogen. This reduction affects multiple systems in the body, including muscles and bones, and also influences the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a key role in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. An reduced ability to produce nitric oxide is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Many women also experience lower levels of physical activity and changes in body composition during midlife, such as increased body fat and reduced muscle mass and strength, which may further decrease exercise capacity. This PhD project investigates whether a simple, natural strategy, combining exercise with beetroot juice, can help postmenopausal women achieve greater benefits from exercise. Beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrates, which the body can convert into nitric oxide, thereby enhancing blood flow. Exercise itself also stimulates nitric oxide production, and together these approaches may have additive or even synergistic effects. The study examines whether consuming beetroot juice before exercise can enhance training adaptations and health outcomes in postmenopausal women. Key outcomes include cardiovascular function, body composition, musculoskeletal function, and aerobic capacity. Some evidence suggests that beetroot juice may amplify the body's response to exercise, which could be particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women, who often face greater barriers to physical activity. By exploring this combined approach, the project aims to evaluate a safe, non-pharmacological strategy to improve physical function and overall health in women after menopause.
Determining the Extent of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Burden in Breast Cancer Survivors
Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often face unique challenges during and after treatment, including the onset of menopause-related symptoms. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) is a common concern in BCS undergoing endocrine therapy (ET). It is a chronic condition caused by estrogen deficiency, leading to vaginal and urinary symptoms such as dryness, irritation, pain during intercourse, recurrent infections, and urinary urgency. The prevalence of GSM in BCS varies widely depending on factors such as the type of ET, individual patient characteristics, and the duration of treatment. As such, the prevalence of GSM in BCS can range from 13% to 95.2%. A recent systematic review performed by part of the investigators of this study concludes that GSM is a significant problem for breast cancer patients. However, most studies lack a control group, limiting the results' validity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the extent of the GSM burden in BCS using a prospective, controlled cohort study. This study will compare breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy (ET) with those undergoing chemotherapy (CT), as CT may also induce GSM-like symptoms. In addition, a comparison will be made with healthy controls. For this study, two groups of participants are included: women with breast cancer and a healthy control group without breast cancer. Within the breast cancer group, a distinction is made between women receiving chemotherapy only and women undergoing hormone therapy only. All participants complete questionnaires. The control group completes these questionnaires once, whereas women with breast cancer are asked to complete the same questionnaires at multiple time points during their treatment and follow-up. This longitudinal approach allows us to assess how potential symptoms evolve over the course of treatment. By comparing responses between both groups, a clearer understanding of which symptoms occur more frequently in women with breast cancer as a consequence of their treatment can be obtained.
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